South Yorkshire Police has invested in a fleet of drones to be used at crime scenes, during major incidents and to help in searches for missing people.

Following a pilot scheme at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, where officers were trained how to use the devices in the event of an incident on the airfield, bosses have now approved funding for another six drones – taking the the force's fleet to eight.

Funding has been secured for eight drones to be used by South Yorkshire Police

Operational Support Unit Inspector Martin Rodgers added: “Whilst we will still be working closely with our colleagues at National Police Air Service for certain operations, adding this resource will mean we can respond more quickly and spontaneously to incidents.”

Twenty officers from across the force will undergo training in line with Civil Aviation Authority regulations to be allowed to operate the drones.

“By developing our fleet, we will have another flexible and highly adaptable resource to help us in a range of spontaneous and pre-planned operations, giving us that extra dimension of a controlled oversight to inform what is happening and what best the police can do. This really will help us in keeping our communities safe.”